Sheetz stakes claim as first c-store chain to accept bitcoin
Sheetz, a family-owned and operated convenience store chain with 622 locations throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina, is enabling digital currency payments.
The c-store chain has partnered with digital payment network Flexa to enable customers to pay for items inside the store or fill up at the pump using digital currencies like bitcoin, ether, litecoin, dogecoin and more.
"Above all else, our mission at Sheetz is to continue providing our customers with the ultimate one-stop-shop where they can refuel their car and refresh their body. As a result, we are constantly innovating and exploring new offerings to truly give our customers what they want, when they want it, 24/7/365 — that includes accepting many forms of payment. We're very excited to be working with Flexa to roll out support for cryptocurrencies and other types of digital assets at our stores," Linda Smith, payments manager for Sheetz, said in a statement.
Sheetz will begin accepting digital currencies using Flexa's instant, scalable, and climate-neutral payments technology at select Sheetz Cafe Stores later this summer, with a planned roll out later in the year at Sheetz's fuel pumps. Customers will also have the option to link their My Sheetz Rewardz loyalty account when paying with Flexa-enabled apps.
"With interest in digital currencies reaching all-time highs, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that there are real, tangible benefits for the merchants who accept them—not only reduced fraud and cost savings, but also a better and more mobile customer experience," said Trevor Filter, co-founder of Flexa. "Sheetz is one of the most forward-thinking brands in the business and understands their customer base better than anyone else. We're absolutely elated that Flexa can help them become the first convenience and retail chain to accept digital currencies directly at the pump."
To pump up security, Sheetz worked with NCR, its point-of-sale technology partner, to enable Flexa's instant, fraud-proof authorization process for digital currency payments. "Connecting through the existing POS solution to the NCR payment gateway enables retailers to quickly integrate new solutions making it easy to introduce new innovations enabled by digital currencies. Retailers benefit through increased loyalty, lower transaction fees, and reduced fraud while improving convenience and choice for shoppers," explained Tim Vanderham, CTO of NCR.
According to a release, the partnership marks the first time that digital currencies have been accepted for convenience purchases, and greatly expands the utility of digital currencies for everyday spending. Sheetz, founded in 1952, is an enthusiastic adopter of technology it's foodservice menu, which includes its famous sandwiches and salads, can be ordered through touchscreen order point terminals.